Homeschooling has brought many blessings to our family (not the least of which is my children's feeling that school is cool!). And with those blessings comes the desire to document our family’s journey in an attempt to help others who follow.
Ours is a journey that began as an idealistic voyage in 1981 and has evolved into an eclectic expedition. Let me show you our path and try to communicate some truths I've learned.

My units change every time I cycle through them. (I like to think the units are getting better each time.) For our most recent study of the Civil War, I had students in grades one through ten. Our main assignment was this:

Make a FLAP BOOK with some information about each of the following:

--Slavery

--Abraham Lincoln

--A Civil War battle

--A Confederate leader

--A Union leader

--Reconstruction

Also, add something from at least two other topics—medicine, photography, constitutional issues, famous ships, movie reviews, timeline, or any additional from the list above.

I didn't direct the construction of the Flap Books. We spent most of our “togetherness school” time reading aloud, watching movies, or doing activities. Then the Flap Books were each student’s synthesis of all the information.

Some of our other activities included making a map showing Union & Confederate states, adding to our timelines/century books, contrasting industrial North with agricultural South, memorizing the Gettysburg address, and making a chart of major battles of the war.There are so many great resources for Civil War times! This time around I used the following:

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman? by Patricia C. and Fredric McKissak.

Runaway to Freedom by Barbara Smucker--about the Underground Railroad.

Gods and Generals--video version of the book by Jeff Shaara. This covers the Civil War before Gettysburg, with a lot about Stonewall Jackson.

Voices from the Civil War by Milton Meltzer. This author has a series of books on U.S. history using all primary sources. It's a great resource.

video: Robert E. Lee from the History channel. (We didn't think it was very good, so I'd like to find a different video or book about General Lee.)

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. This historical novel about the battle of Gettysburg is one of my favorites. It introduces the reader to people on both sides of the war, so you feel that you know them as friends.

Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln by Jean Fritz--about the Gettysburg address

video: Shenandoah

"A Lincoln Preface" by Carl Sandburg (part of his famous Lincoln biography)

I recommend that you find additional books—especially biographies of other people from that era (Clara Barton, Matthew Brady, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Eli Whitney, etc.) Let me know what gems you find!

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My "Students" 2015

D-- age 16, grade 10N-- age 21, AA degree from Centralia College, attending Washington College.L-- graduated from BYU-I in 2017 with degrees in English, dance, and veterinary technology.C-- graduated from Washington State U in 2017 with BS in zoology.Ju-- graduated from U of Idaho in 2010 with BS in mechanical engineering, Brigham Young U in 2012 with MS in mechanical engineering. Homeschooling his children.B-- graduated from Washington State U in 2009 with BA in psychology, U of Washington in 2014 with B of Nursing. Plans to homeschool.K-- graduated from Brigham Young U in 2006 with BS in biology, homeschooling her children, ages 4-11.Je-- graduated from Central Washington U in 2003 with BA in teaching (English, theater), Walden U in 2014 with MS in psychology.

Favorite Read-Alouds (A Growing List)

*Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay (to be read after learning about discovery of King Tut's tomb)

*The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (Rome & Palestine)*A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L Konigsburg (Eleanor of Aquitaine)*Constance by Patricia Clapp (Pilgrims)*The Midnight Ride of Paul Revereillustrated by Christopher Bing (the illustrations are a big part of it!)

Followers

"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again."